Decarbonization Avenue : Product Use Efficiency

Resource use efficiency is an essential component of decarbonization, focusing on deriving maximum value from products before disposal through proper maintenance, repair, or refurbishment. This approach can significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with the production of new goods and minimize waste. In the Indian context, improving product use efficiency offers substantial potential for decarbonization across various sectors.

Current Scenario

The throwaway culture, coupled with the rise of fast fashion, consumer electronics, and other disposable goods, contributes to a substantial carbon footprint. In 2023, India generated approximately 65 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually. Of this, about 47 million tonnes are collected, and 15 million tonnes are treated. Additionally, India produces around 12 million tonnes of hazardous waste and about 1.71 million tonnes of e-waste each year. The country also faces significant challenges with plastic waste, generating 3.5 million tonnes annually.

Key Areas of Waste

Clothing and Textiles: India generates approximately 1 million tonnes of textile waste annually. Fast fashion and consumer behavior lead to high disposal rates of perfectly usable clothing.
Consumer Electronics: E-waste in India is growing at a rate of 30% annually, with only about 10% being formally recycled.
Furniture and Vehicles: The increasing demand for new furniture and vehicles results in substantial waste, with limited focus on refurbishment and reuse.

Key Technology

Clothing Rentals and Reuse

Clothing Rental Services: Platforms like Flyrobe and Stage3 offer rental services for high-end fashion, promoting the reuse of garments. Expanding these services can reduce the demand for new clothing.
Second-hand Markets: Online marketplaces like OLX and Quikr facilitate the sale of second-hand goods, including clothing, electronics, and furniture, promoting reuse and reducing waste.

Repair and Refurbishment

Electronics Repair: Initiatives like JustFix and UrbanClap offer repair services for consumer electronics, extending their lifespan and reducing e-waste. Encouraging such services can mitigate the growing e-waste problem in India.
Furniture Refurbishment: Companies like Furlenco and Rentomojo provide refurbished furniture on a subscription basis, reducing the need for new furniture and minimizing waste.

Reusable and Sustainable Products

Reusable Sanitary Products: Promoting reusable sanitary pads and menstrual cups can significantly reduce waste generated from disposable sanitary products. Organizations like SheCup and Eco Femme are leading efforts in this domain.
Reusable Packaging: Implementing reusable packaging solutions for FMCG goods can cut down on single-use plastics. Brands like Beco and Ecoware are innovating in sustainable packaging solutions.

Case Studies

Rentomojo: Rentomojo offers furniture, appliances, and electronics on a subscription basis. By promoting the reuse and refurbishment of products, Rentomojo helps reduce waste and the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing new items.
Eco Femme: Eco Femme is a women-led social enterprise that produces and promotes the use of reusable cloth pads. This initiative not only reduces sanitary waste but also empowers women with sustainable menstrual products.
Goonj: Goonj, an NGO, collects used clothing and household items and refurbishes them for redistribution to underserved communities. This initiative not only reduces waste but also provides essential items to those in need.

Decarbonization potential

The concept of product use efficiency centers on maximizing the lifespan and utility of products, thereby reducing the need for new production, which is often resource-intensive and carbon-heavy. In India, the potential for decarbonization through improved product use efficiency is vast, spanning across sectors such as clothing and textiles, consumer electronics, furniture, and vehicles. By shifting consumer behavior and corporate practices towards sustainability, India can achieve substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate waste generation, and enhance resource conservation.

Key Datapoints

Extending the lifespan of clothing by just nine months can reduce its carbon footprint by 20-30%.
Increasing the repair and refurbishment rate of consumer electronics to 50% could reduce e-waste by approximately 1.6 million tonnes annually, saving around 4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions.
Extending the lifespan of electronics by just one year can reduce the carbon footprint by 15-20%. If this practice is applied to 50% of electronic products, it could save approximately 2 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
Promoting the refurbishment and reuse of furniture can reduce the need for new furniture by 25%, potentially saving 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
Improving vehicle maintenance and promoting the reuse of parts can extend vehicle lifespans by 20%, reducing emissions from manufacturing new vehicles by approximately 5 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
Increasing the adoption of reusable sanitary products to 30% among menstruating women could reduce sanitary waste by approximately 150,000 tonnes annually, saving around 0.5 million tonnes of CO2.
Reusable packaging solutions for at least 30% of FMCG goods could reduce single-use plastic waste by 500,000 tonnes annually, saving approximately 1.5 million tonnes of CO2.

Industries impacted

Consumer durables
Fast moving consumer goods
Electrical
Electronics & semiconductors
Packaging & plastics
Printing & publishing
Paper & forest products
Textile & apparel
Waste management

Themes & Topics

Products
- Apparel & accessories
- Paper & plastic
- Furniture
- Automobiles
- Electronics & electrical goods
- Batteries
- Industrial equipment
Approaches for use efficiency
- Better product design
- Local support for success of repair and reuse
- Modularity & reuse
- Behavioural sciences

Product life extension through:
- Repair
- Better maintenance
- Knowledge & awareness
- Renting & sharing
- Remanufacturing
- Upcycling
Enabling policies

Use of IT & digital tools
Knowledge & capacity building
- Use of online resources for awareness & training

Materials

All Decarbonization Avenues @ EAI

Decarbonization Avenue : Product Use Efficiency

Current Scenario

Key Areas of Waste

Key Technology

Case Studies

Decarbonization potential

Key Datapoints

Industries impacted

Themes & Topics

Materials

All Decarbonization Avenues @ EAI

Renewable Energy :

Energy Efficiency :

Energy Storage :

Agriculture & Food :

Waste Management :

Materials :

Water :

Decarbonizing Industries :

Low Carbon Mobility :

GHG Management :

Communities :

Finance :

Platforms :

Moonshots :

India Decarbonization Avenues

LOW CARBON ENERGY

LOW CARBON RESOURCES

LOW CARBON INDUSTRY & TRANSPORT

LOW CARBON FACILITATORS